House panel subpoenas VA over Denver hospital, artwork

ASSOCIATED PRESS

September 7, 2016

Photo: David Zalubowski, STF

FILE - In this July 1, 2015 file photo, Veterans Affairs Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson speaks near construction for the VA hospital during a news conference, in Aurora, Colo. A House committee will vote on whether to issue a subpoena to the Veterans Affairs Department demanding the agency turn over documents that could explain how the cost of a Denver-area VA hospital ballooned to almost $1.7 billion, nearly triple earlier estimates. The Veterans Affairs Committee scheduled a vote for Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016, on a subpoena for documents gathered by a VA internal inquiry called an administrative investigation board. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

FILE - In this July 1, 2015 file photo, Veterans Affairs Deputy...

WASHINGTON - Demanding explanations for a $1 billion cost overrun, a House panel Wednesday issued a subpoena to the Department of Veterans Affairs for documents on how the cost of a Denver-area VA hospital ballooned to almost $1.7 billion.

The subpoena by the House Veterans Affairs Committee also seeks documents related to millions of dollars spent on artwork and ornamental furnishings at VA offices nationwide, including more than $6.4 million spent on the Palo Alto, Calif., health care system.

The chairman of the veterans panel, Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., said it was "unfortunate that VA's continued lack of transparency has led us to this decision" to issue the subpoena, but contended that lawmakers had little choice.

The subpoena was served Wednesday and gives the VA until Sept. 28 to respond.

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The subpoena is at least the fourth the House panel has issued since 2014 amid continuing frustration over the VA's performance following the wait-time scandal that led to the ouster of the VA secretary and a $16 billion overhaul approved by Congress.

Veterans on secret waiting lists faced scheduling delays of up to a year, and as many as 40 veterans died while awaiting care at the Phoenix hospital, according to an investigation by the VA's inspector general.